Knowledge is to accumulate facts and wisdom is to simplify the same - That’s how we connect with reality, when there is a strapping need of bridging gap between two generations. Acquiring knowledge is mostly a kingdom of youth and energetic time of human as it needs hard work and vigour, but wisdom comes with experience and mostly a reign of old and elderly as it necessitates tolerance and patience.

Ideally
in our culture like any other ancient culture, elders simply
willingly share their wisdom with the next generation and help them
to move forward. So supremely it is a combination of wisdom and new
ideas that is necessary for the advancement of the human
civilization.

In
Focus

However,
mostly, things never happen ideally. Often simple things get quite
complex from which humans need to learn some lessons.

Overtime,
an elder necessarily evolves to become a ceremonial head — of
family, institution or political party - by virtue of age,
experience, stature and popularity. Now, whether the elder willingly
embraces that role opting for non-inclusive or would like to be more
involved in current happenings and decision making, would depend on
the temperament of the elder and the prevailing mood and circumstance
of the new generation.

At
present, everybody is aware of the internal turmoil going inside BJP.
The tallest leader of BJP, Advani has been consistently displaying
his dissent ever since the emergence of Narendra Modi as mascot for
LS election 2014 in BJP. Whether it is the anointment of NaMo as
Campaign Chief in Goa last year or the Declaration of Modi as PM
nominee or the latest high drama of tantrums over his LS candidature
from Gandhinagar or Bhopal - every time surprisingly Advaniji has
shown a very stumpy side of his personality.

The
man who has a glorious past as an inspirational figure to millions
with a life of legacy has reduced himself to a grand old man fixed
with rigid intolerance, stiff grudges and ravenous hunger for power.
Isn’t he himself shrinking his own stature?

Undoubtedly,
none can question his efforts as a founder member of the party for
the rise of BJP in the late 1980s and 1990s and that quite justifies
his tall stature in the party. But, it is also a fact that since last
decade, BJP has nothing in its pocket, totally empty handed and in
almost at the threshold of suicidal mode in national politics,
because of the lack of leadership factor.

Even
during the 2009 elections, the mandate had given a strong message
that people might like Advani personally but he is not a leader to
lead the country. Had Advaniji read that message of public sensibly,
he would have announced his retirement gracefully much before. Isn’t
it?

Well
let’s put it like this. May be it was his strong attachment to the
party that prevented him from retirement, but certainly he does not
have any merit to weave a great dream or can seriously harbour
any great visions of unfolded future at this age, which is a
major reason of his discontentment.

With
the passage of time, role changes. May be Advaniji failed to learn
this very lesson of life else he would have assumed the role of an
important advisor, prime supporter and cheer-leader for NaMo putting
personal pique (even if any) aside in the larger interests of
the party. Instead he chose to openly publicize his discontent that
to, at the edge of the election, risking the aspiration of the party.
Isn’t it an evidence of simply 'gone out of mind'?

Elders
unite the family. They guide and mentor keeping the flock together,
if not shepherding them. But certainly Advaniji is not that kind of
an elder for sure. Because evidently, he has a favorite coterie
inside the party that gives prominence to a divisive line inside it.
Instead of being the centre of thoughts and a neutralizer of the same
among the different sentiments of members keeping them united under
his umbrella of seniority and making them work towards a common
objective, Advaniji chose to divide the members with rivalry feeling
to fulfill his own personal interest.

At
present people are observing every minute detail of political
developments among all party lines. May be opponents attacking Modi
or Rajnath Singh for cornering Advaniji but everyone understands the
fact that Advaniji himself is solely responsible for his
growing irrelevance in the party. After all respect is commanded not
demanded, right? He is proving himself as a burden to the shoulders
that carry his load, isn’t it?

From
a weak opposition to a very strong contender to be in power in 2014,
it is not wrong to say that BJP has gone through a quick
metamorphosis covering this distance within a very short time under
NaMo’s leadership. No matter if anybody likes him (Modi) or not but
none can ignore his hard work, focus and commitment under tremendous
pressure. So clearly, he has the highest score to be the PM of the
country in terms of competence and meritocracy.

Advaniji
and other senior leaders must remember that credit, power and
influence come with expiry dates. In fact everything on earth has an
expiry date. It is always better to step back and renounce their lust
for power propping way for next generation to wrap life with dignity
and respectability. A timely wake up call for our septuagenarians and
octogenarians in particular and an important lesson for all human in
general.

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